Sermon 2-11-07 the wedding banquet
Today I would like to challenge you view of the Christian faith……
this parable, like many that Jesus told is about the Kingdom of God
the kingdom is both a future event and it is here and now
What will it be like in the future, heavenly kingdom
Many church ladies
Funeral home guys
A harp factory> Stiff, regimented, organized, stilted, > Is this why we serve God
· No more sorrow or pain, no more parting over there> No more tearsjoy
Rev 7:17 God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes
Rev 21:4 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
1 Cor 2:9----Eyes have not seen ears have not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him
This is going to be a great banquet
What kind of a band will they have?
If you be leaving for ever and life is just a one night stand> Jim Croce, John Denver, Jimmy Hendrix, John Lennon> It is going to be fun> Hell is for people who didn’t want to go to the party
What about the banquet here on earth?
I was raised on duty….met different thinkers in 1984
Ther periphery of the chirstian faith is filled with sentinels…The Orchard
What passes for faith in our time is not much different from that experienceat the orchard. So often we stay right around the edges, not trying veryhard to deepen our understanding, content to lead unexamined lives where weknow ourselves very little and God even less. No wonder the fruits ofreligious experience taste so bitter in our mouths and bring so littlenourishment to the lives of people who are otherwise quite famished andsearching for something that will fulfill the deepest hunger of their souls.How is it that a message as fresh and invigorating as the one the Biblegives us becomes more like taking a dose of castor oil than biting into ajuicy, refreshing peach? Perhaps it is because we pick from the rigid,moralistic trees around the outer edges of our faith and never bother to godeeper into the truly satisfying experience of a God who deals with us inlove and tender mercy. At the center of the Garden, grace brings forthfruits of judgment and mercy that blossom together.
It is a partyErnest T. Campbell asks the question, “Who would you rather go with on aweek fishing trip? Jesus or John the Baptist? Whose sandwiches would yourather eat? John the Baptist’s honey-locust on Wonder Bread, or Jesus’ perchon pumpernickel? It has been said that if we deleted all the parties fromthe Book of Luke,” Campbell offers, “it would be a paper-thin book.”
Arguments for celebration
Show me anywhere where it says that a church, church life, or the Christian life is supposed to be a downer
Jesus comes not to place burdens on our backs, but to lift our burdens so that we can truly live
Parties jesus threw
Wedding at cana
Feeding of 5000
Healing of the 10 lepers
Raising lazarus
Casting out demons
Remember Jesus went to the wedding in Cana....> I wonder if he danced? Laughed?> Or just sat over on the side and was stoic> Did he judge others
Why we don’t celebrate?
We are too stuck in our own stuff
How was your week. It stank, I had this, and this and this.
I caught my self. Shut up Jeff. You are not sick, your family is not sick, I have nothing to complain about
We are too busy
All the excuses
We were preconditioned to think it was unholy to celebrate
3rd grade at the Lutheran church Christmas program practice
The poor want to come
Forget their woes
They are happy….washed in the blood
If my kids go to worlds of fun = so what
If inner city kids to to w.o.fun = a party
Heres the silly thought for us……it’s a party that we are invited to!
We are missing out on a party
What would Jesus say…….They must be out of wine……..
The joy of being a child of God
Romans 8 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if we are children, we are heirs.
This is why they call it good news
Well done good and faithful servant….enter into the _____ [joy] of the lord
The invitation goes out. If you are in the sound of my voice today, you are invited.
And so, sometimes, coming to church should be fun.
More often ten sometimes. Hey lets sing
Its good. Its all good
Today I would like to challenge you view of the Christian faith……
this parable, like many that Jesus told is about the Kingdom of God
the kingdom is both a future event and it is here and now
What will it be like in the future, heavenly kingdom
Many church ladies
Funeral home guys
A harp factory> Stiff, regimented, organized, stilted, > Is this why we serve God
· No more sorrow or pain, no more parting over there> No more tearsjoy
Rev 7:17 God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes
Rev 21:4 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
1 Cor 2:9----Eyes have not seen ears have not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him
This is going to be a great banquet
What kind of a band will they have?
If you be leaving for ever and life is just a one night stand> Jim Croce, John Denver, Jimmy Hendrix, John Lennon> It is going to be fun> Hell is for people who didn’t want to go to the party
What about the banquet here on earth?
I was raised on duty….met different thinkers in 1984
Ther periphery of the chirstian faith is filled with sentinels…The Orchard
What passes for faith in our time is not much different from that experienceat the orchard. So often we stay right around the edges, not trying veryhard to deepen our understanding, content to lead unexamined lives where weknow ourselves very little and God even less. No wonder the fruits ofreligious experience taste so bitter in our mouths and bring so littlenourishment to the lives of people who are otherwise quite famished andsearching for something that will fulfill the deepest hunger of their souls.How is it that a message as fresh and invigorating as the one the Biblegives us becomes more like taking a dose of castor oil than biting into ajuicy, refreshing peach? Perhaps it is because we pick from the rigid,moralistic trees around the outer edges of our faith and never bother to godeeper into the truly satisfying experience of a God who deals with us inlove and tender mercy. At the center of the Garden, grace brings forthfruits of judgment and mercy that blossom together.
It is a partyErnest T. Campbell asks the question, “Who would you rather go with on aweek fishing trip? Jesus or John the Baptist? Whose sandwiches would yourather eat? John the Baptist’s honey-locust on Wonder Bread, or Jesus’ perchon pumpernickel? It has been said that if we deleted all the parties fromthe Book of Luke,” Campbell offers, “it would be a paper-thin book.”
Arguments for celebration
Show me anywhere where it says that a church, church life, or the Christian life is supposed to be a downer
Jesus comes not to place burdens on our backs, but to lift our burdens so that we can truly live
Parties jesus threw
Wedding at cana
Feeding of 5000
Healing of the 10 lepers
Raising lazarus
Casting out demons
Remember Jesus went to the wedding in Cana....> I wonder if he danced? Laughed?> Or just sat over on the side and was stoic> Did he judge others
Why we don’t celebrate?
We are too stuck in our own stuff
How was your week. It stank, I had this, and this and this.
I caught my self. Shut up Jeff. You are not sick, your family is not sick, I have nothing to complain about
We are too busy
All the excuses
We were preconditioned to think it was unholy to celebrate
3rd grade at the Lutheran church Christmas program practice
The poor want to come
Forget their woes
They are happy….washed in the blood
If my kids go to worlds of fun = so what
If inner city kids to to w.o.fun = a party
Heres the silly thought for us……it’s a party that we are invited to!
We are missing out on a party
What would Jesus say…….They must be out of wine……..
The joy of being a child of God
Romans 8 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if we are children, we are heirs.
This is why they call it good news
Well done good and faithful servant….enter into the _____ [joy] of the lord
The invitation goes out. If you are in the sound of my voice today, you are invited.
And so, sometimes, coming to church should be fun.
More often ten sometimes. Hey lets sing
Its good. Its all good
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